Matt Abbott 🍉

@mattabbottpoet.com

901 Followers 353 Following

✍️🏻 Poet, novelist & educator 📚 3 full-length poetry books 📕 1 novel 📍 Leeds, UK 🦚 #lufc ♂️ He/him 🧠 ADHD 🎤 @livewirepoetry.org 🌐 mattabbottpoet.com

Hello! I have a question about querying lit agents with a novel… I submitted a draft of my debut novel to a series of lit agents last year (April - Sep). I've now revised it: I've massively tightened up the first 10k words, made a few alternative decisions here and there, and improved the cover letter/synopsis. I do believe it's notably different now. Would it be bad form to resubmit to some of the same agents? Or is that fair game? I don't want to burn bridges but also feel like this time around, people are more likely to bite. Any advice would be massively appreciated 🙏🏻 Thank you!
A selfie with my Dad (stood on the left). He's wearing a yellow/white/blue Leeds United scarf and a beanie hat.
Date: 30 Jan 2025, 12:24 Hello, Please find enclosed my submissions for your March issue. My bio is also below. I hope you enjoy reading everyone's poems! All the best, Matt.
A black-and-white portrait photograph of poet Matt Abbott set against a navy blue background. In the top left, the orange text reads: "An intro to managing your entries and submissions." Beneath that, in yellow: "@MattAbbottPoet"
A black and white photo of a group of men with their backs to the camera, all with their right hands raised doing the "OK" hand pose 👌🏻
A view of the Elland Road pitch at night, taken from behind the goal in the South Stand.
The top image shows the city of Jabalia before Israeli airstrikes, and the bottom image shows the rubble that remains.
The album sleeve for 'Power, Corruption & Lies' by New Order, which is a painting of a bunch of flowers in a wicker basket.
A photograph of poet Maria Ferguson, wearing a mustard knit jumper, in the top left corner. She's a brunette with her hair down and gold hooped earrings. The book cover for her collection 'Swell' in the bottom right, with some blue denim dungarees on a white background. The background colour of the image matches the blue of the dungarees.
The cinematic poster for Better Man.
My final piece of advice is just to remind yourself why you’re writing and who you’re writing for. It’s easy to obsess over a warped perception of what “success” looks like. Being published in certain lit mags or being shortlisted for certain prizes. I’m reminding myself every day that creative success is something you define yourself - not that others should define for you. Is it making you happy, are you proud of your work, and are you feeling creatively stimulated? If yes, then you’re succeeding, in my view.
Looe Harbour beneath the West Looe hillside, taken from halfway up Barbican Hill. The sky is grey and foggy.